HALLOWELL – Robert Stevens Wallace, 93, passed away April 4, 2012, with his family by his side at his home. He was born Oct. 18, 1918, in Milbridge, to Capt. Alonzo S. and Marjorie (Strout) Wallace.
As a small child Robert accompanied his father, Capt. Wallace and family on numerous sailing voyages. In 1924 the family moved from Milbridge to Baltimore. There Robert attended elementary school. With the onset of the Great Depression, the family returned to the Wallace homestead in Milbridge. Here Robert attended school, graduating from Milbridge High School in 1937. In December 1937, Robert joined the Navy. His Naval career started with basic training at the Hospital Corps School, San Diego. He was then stationed at several Naval hospitals until 1940 when he was assigned to the hospital ship, the USS Relief. The ship was based out of Pearl Harbor until June 1941, at which time it sailed to Argentia Bay, Canada. Ironically Robert’s first tour of duty ended Dec. 7, 1941. Upon news of the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entrance into World War II, Robert immediately re-enlisted for another tour of duty. This next tour of duty took him to the Naval Dispensary in Washington, D.C., where he met Margaret Ehlers, a young gal from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, who was a stenographer working for the Navy Department. After a whirlwind courtship Robert and Margaret were wed May 22, 1943, in Washington, D.C. Shortly thereafter Robert was shipped out on the USS Cincinnati, running convoys from Brooklyn Navy Yard to Belfast, England. His duty continued on this cruiser to the Mediterranean Sea and on to the Caribbean during the War. After his discharge from the Navy as a chief hospital corpsman, Robert and Margaret settled in Hallowell, in 1946, at which time he accepted a position with Central Maine Power Co. Soon after Robert enlisted in the Naval Reserve in the Surface Division 129 in Augusta, as an instructor. While serving in the reserve he was also attached to the 64th Rifle Company Marine Corps as a hospital corpsman. He retired from the reserve in 1978 as a master chief petty officer, attaining the highest level of E-9. In 1981 Robert retired from Central Maine Power Co. In his retirement he enjoyed taking daily walks with his wife, Margaret, tending to his geraniums, bird watching and horseback riding. He took great pride in keeping his cars spotless and shiny. Throughout the years Robert and Margaret danced to the music from the Big Band Era, never missing a step. They traveled extensively for the next 25 years.
Robert was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Carroll; and his sister, Kathryn Griffin. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Margaret; two sisters, Lorna Strout and Marjorie Ann Hand; son, John of Rumford and wife, Lisa, and their children, Chad and Lindsey; daughter, Mary Ulrickson of Topsham and husband, Charles, and their children, Heather and Gretchen; daughter, Susan Dodge of Windsor and husband, James, and their children, Joshua, Katie and Jason; daughter, Ann Tarr of Pittston and husband, Daniel, and their children, Samuel and Mallory; great-grandchildren, DeShaun, Shyheim, Jax, Jace, Josy, Duncan, Delia and Dylan; several nieces and nephews. The family thanks HealthReach Hospice and especially Elaine Beaudoin, R.N., and Barbara Damren, social worker, for making it possible for Robert to be at home for his last days. A special thank you is also extended to Dr. Scott Schiff-Slater and staff at Hallowell Family Practice.
A memorial Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hallowell. Burial will be afterward at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. After the burial there will be a reception at Sacred Heart Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HealthReach Hospice and Volunteers of Kennebec Valley, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903-0828. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at
www.khrfuneralhomes.com.